A groundbreaking $3.8 million research project is putting local voices at the centre of decision-making for the future of the Solomon Islands.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded Planning Future for Yumi project is pioneering a model of community-led development that breaks away from traditional top-down approaches, transforming how coastal communities in Solomon Islands plan for their future.
James Cook University's (JCU) Associate Professor Amy Diedrich, who leads the project, said it's about enabling small-scale fishing and coastal peoples to take ownership of their futures.
"These communities face complex challenges — from climate change to resource extraction — that make long-term planning difficult," Assoc Prof Diedrich said.
"Instead of arriving with ready-made solutions, we're supporting them to define their own visions and pathways forward."
By stepping back to consider how multiple environmental, social and economic factors interact, the team hopes to help Solomon Islanders develop realistic, resilient plans for their future.
"You can't just focus on one issue like fisheries management," Assoc Prof Diedrich said.
"Communities are dealing with overlapping challenges — climate, livelihoods, governance — so we're taking an integrated approach that connects them all."
The project is currently developing risk profiles and baseline data to help locals determine their priorities and support their development funding applications.
"One community that we work with used this information to apply for government funding to build a shared space to discuss marine management issues," explained Assoc Prof Diedrich.
"They were successful; and a community hall was built this year."
Another key focus of Planning Future for Yumi is building local scientific and planning capacity. In partnership with Solomon Islands National University, the project will help establish the country's first spatial science degree program, potentially providing a model for other Pacific nations.
The five-year initiative brings together multiple Solomon Islands government agencies, the Solomon Islands National University, and local organisation Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands to create a cohesive approach to community planning.
"In a lot of Pacific Island countries, including in the Solomon Islands, limited resources and the isolation of rural communities means that their perspectives and voices do not always reach decision-makers," said Assoc Prof Diedrich.
"So, our project is trying to build that connection, so the communities' perspectives and voices are reaching higher levels of governance".
The project has already attracted strong local support, with five government ministries, across fisheries, climate and disaster management, forestry, culture and tourism, and planning and development, engaged in its planning and guidance — a rare level of coordination in development projects.
